Window shade



P. RAINSFORD May 112, 1931.

WINDOW SHADE Filed Sept. 15, 1930 2 SheecSr-Sheet 1 SHADE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. RAINSFORD WINDOW Filed Sept.

May 12, 1931,

Patented May 12, 193i osrier;

PAIRECK EAINSFOBD, 6F DGRCHESTER, MASSASHUSETTS VIINDOW' SHADE Application filed September 15, 1930.

.lhe present invention relates to window shades, and more particularly to devices of this character which are entirely free from the usual springs or similar encumbrances to operating, and w rich are capable of comv excluding the passage of light from ow in either direoion when the shade down to its low ost position. The 3056 and object of the present invention to provide a new and improved type of idow shade with accompanying mechanism for operating which is simple and effective in construction and which permits the shade to be simply easily moved from one positi n to another.

Tvith this and Otili' objects in view, the various matures of the invention consist in cer tain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

in the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the iirn'oved shade and its operating mechanism embodied in a window casing;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the shade; and

Figs. 3 and i are details illustrating certain portions of the operating and guiding mechanism taken respectively on the section lines 3 and 4 of Figs. 1 and 2.

The shade shown in the illustrated embodihicnt of the invention comprises a flexible curtain of suitable material 10 wound upon a roll 12 at its upper end, the roll having oppositely extending studs 14 and 16 prowith reduced bearin g portions 18 hich vid 6. -10 are adapted to be slidingly received and journaled in slots 20 formed in rearwardly extending wings 2:2 which project integrally from the upper end of each guide member 24. its indicated more particularly in the d awi5 ings, a tubular and generally U-shaped guide member 24 is secured at opposite sides of the window casing extending vertically therein. Each of these guide members in crosssection provides a substantially closed conduit for 50 the up and down moven'ient of the shade, with Serial No. 481,843.

the exception of a relatively restricted guide opening 30. Sliding within the tubular conduit at opposite ends are guide rolls 3% and 36 journaled at 38 on a bar or bars 40 connested in the lower edge of the flexible cur- 55 tain 10. These rolls in conjunction with the supporting bar or bars serve to guide the lowor edge of the curtain as it is moved up and down in front of the window, and aid and facilitate in securing a smooth frictionless movement within the guides. It will be evident from the drawings that the opposite free edges of the curtain project a slight distance Thin the guide members in a manner to guide the curtain throughout its entire expa so, and completely exclude the passage of light. It will be evident furthermore that guir'ing slots are disposed in front of e curt. .-supporting roll 12 in such a fash- P that the edge of the curtain as unwound rom or wound upon the roll is porn itted to "ravel freely and smoothly within the slot. in order to facilitate the entrance of the curtain edge into the slot, the rear portion of the tubular guide is cut away below the sup- 1 porting roll, as indicated in the drawings.

It is intended that the weight of the curtain at its lower edge shall be sufficient to normally drop the curtain through gravi'i y, and the raising and lowering of the curtain is provided by means of a winding spool mounted on one of the studs 16, and having wound thereon reversely to the uirection of winding of the curtain an operating cord or r) strap 52. This operating cord or strap is pinned or secured at the end of the spool, and passes outwardly through a slot or opening formed in the face of the guide 2% adjacent the top. At its lower end the strap is n provided with a latch or hook and an operating instrumentality 56. This latch cooperates wi h a series of spaced openings formed in the front of the guide, and when engaged by the latch serving to lock the shade in completely raised or lowered position or any intermediate position, as desired. It will be evicent that with this construction, by disengaging the latch from any one of the openings and raising or lowering the strap, the curtain may be raised or lowered in the v.1 HA

reverse direction and locked in desired position. During this movement the curtain through the oppositely disposed guides moves freely and smoothly without binding or cramping. Furthermore, after locking in de sired position, the curtain will remain in place without flapping, due to currents of air if the window is partially or wholly open.

\Vh at is claimed is 1. A window shade comprising a shade roller detachably journaled at opposite ends, a curtain shade Wound thereon, a weight in the lower edge of the shade to cause the shade to normally descend by gravity, oppositely disposed guides each having a guiding slot offset from the axis of the roller and adapted to engage opposite edge portions of the curtain throughout its unwound length, a series of spaced openings formed in one guide, a flexible pull reverscly wound upon the shade roller and extending lengthwise oi one of the guides for operating the curtain, and a latch connected with the flexible pull and adapted to selectively engage with the openings in the guide to lock the curtain in adjusted position.

2. A window shade comprising a springless shade roller journaled at opposite ends, a curtain shade wound upon the roller, U-shaped guides each having a narrow guiding slot to engage opposite edges of the shade, rearwardly extending ears projecting from the upper portions of the guides to form hearings for the opposite ends of the shade roller, a slot formed in the upper portion of one of the guides, a flexible pull reversel wound upon the end of the shade roller and extending through the slot, :1 series of spaced openings formed lengthwise oi the guide, and a latch upon the pull designed to selectively engage with the openings for locking the shade in any adjusted position.

PAT KICK RAINSFUl-ZD. 

